In this episode of Discover Boston College , host George Kaparis ’27 speaks with John O’Keeffe ’26 about the new Red Bandanna Leadership Fellow program and the enduring legacy of Welles Crowther. John describes the cohort’s retreat, the powerful moment of meeting Welles’ mother, and how themes like courage, commitment, and servant leadership are being translated into on-campus action projects. This conversation explores how a symbol — the red bandanna — became a campus-wide reminder to “be a person for others,” and why the annual Red Bandanna Game brings the BC community together to reflect, remember, and recommit. 0:00 | Welcome to Discover Boston College with George Kaparis '27. 0:18 | Meet the guest: John O’Keefe ’26, a Red Bandanna Leadership Fellow. 0:45 | What is the Red Bandanna Leadership Fellow Program? 1:29 | How students were selected and the cohort’s composition. 2:17 | Retreat highlights: visiting Cohasset and meeting Welles Crowther’s mother. 2:44 | Program structure — speakers, themes, and action-project focus. 3:29 | How the program reshaped John’s approach to leadership. 5:15 | What “leadership as a way of life” looks like in practice. 6:07 | Welles Crowther’s story: courage, going back up, and serving strangers. 11:16 | What does the red bandanna symbolize for John personally and for the BC community? 11:41 | The red bandanna — origin story and what the symbol means campus-wide. 13:25 | The Red Bandanna Game — why BC honors Welles with a game and its national reach. 17:02 | Closing reflections — honoring Welles Crowther’s enduring legacy and the unity his story inspires at BC. 17:45 | Thank you for tuning into this episode of Discover Boston College ! Stay tuned for the latest updates on Discover Boston College , a Boston College Student Affairs and D100 Media podcast. Have an idea for this podcast? Text D100 Radio on Messages or email
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